Made me feel uncomfortable should I make a complaint.

Right. hang on. Slow down. When you say he 'attempted to take her knickers off' can you be a bit more specific? Was he inspecting her skin at this point? Was she facing towards him, away from him, or laying on his examination couch?

Did he mention needing to see her genitals or did you just assume that he was trying to see them? Is it that he just pulled her pants down a little at the back (if she was facing away from him) in order to see more of the skin beneath the upper edge of her pants? Especially if he was looking for a continuation of a line of moles. You say he actually tried to take her knickers off. Are you quite, quite clear that this was his intention?

I don't understand why it would be necessary at all to look any skin around her knicker line as part of an autism check up, but I am not a doctor. Either way, especially without a nurse present, it seems foolish to attempt to go anywhere near a child's knickers without asking you and explaining why first.

As previous posters have mentioned there are legitimate reasons to be looking at skin as part of a neurological/developmental assessment for kids. Mainly involving looking for cafe au Lait spots which can be indicative of neurofibromatosis. It can also present with clustering of these marks and freckles in the groin so it may have been these that he was specifically checking for. If he is a paediatrician he may just be doing a very thorough assessment of the presentation.

That said, regardless of his reasons, he has made you uncomfortable by not adequately explaining this or checking in, and so it's absolutely right to raise this as a complaint to be looked into. I just have seen some of your comments about feeling like you should have stopped it or feeling awful, and I wanted to say please don't automatically assume this was something nefarious. You've done nothing wrong at all.

I’m sorry this has happened to you and your DD OP.

My DS was never asked to remove any clothing in any of his ASD assessments. In my job I read many ASD assessment reports and I’ve never seen any reference to a physical examination.

I'm glad you are making a complaint.

You said he was doing a physical and also a skin check? Yes he should have been more clear and told you what was happening etc but why would you automatically jump to something seedy.

People saying it never happened to them with an autism diagnoses, sure but he was doing a physical? Nothing to do with the autism?

Is this an NHS doctor OP?
Let’s see if anything comes of your complaint (I really hope it does) and there’s not any kind of cover up or excuse.

I was thinking he may have been checking for signs of EDS, but the not asking and not having a nurse present is just not right. You are right to complain and have this investigated, even if there’s nothing amiss it’s bad practice.

A Consultant Community Paediatrician diagnosed my 5yr old Grandson and she certainly didn't need to remove his clothing. This is disturbing and you definitely need to report to the GMC.

I ment child there was a child that went to the same SEN school born without an anus. Obviously if a newborn has no bum hole and can’t poo that’s a problem and need sorting asap.

I agree with this. I think it's very strange to assume he was trying to examine her genitals when he had already stated that he was checking her skin. I'd been seeking clarification in the first instance and then making a complaint based on his lack of explanation etc.

This

glad you have reported.

In my experience Dr’s never do anything to you that you can do yourself or in the case of a child they get you to do it.

eg. they say to me - can you roll up your sleeve (for blood pressure check) rather than grabbing you and pulling up your clothes.

for myself when i was ill in hospital if needing to access to my central line etc in chest they always asked before touching me.

both my kids whenever they needed examining by medics the Dr’s / nurse always said ‘can you take his jumper off mum / can you pop his tshirt off mum?’ Or they asked my children directly - ‘can you lift your tshirt up so I can listen to your chest?’ We s as l were clear what and why .

they never just took it upon themselves in routine appointments to undress either me or my child.

good clinicians always ask and explain - attempting to pull her knickers down with no explanation is NOT on.

I hope they investigate properly and fully. These things often get swept under the carpet and I really hope by you speaking up and complaining he will be stopped from doing this again or anything else to vulnerable children.

I have to admit I agree with everything you have said here too although I would still wish more clarification.

I have two children with an ASD diagnosis and I have NEVER had to have their skin checked and certainly never had to have their genitalia examined.

This is really alarming and you are completely right to get this investigated.

Are you making an assumption that he intended to look at her genitalia? Isn’t it possible that he may have been removing her underwear to look for cafe au lait spots in the groin area, as described by a PP?

I agree that you should make a complaint as he didn’t offer a chaperone or clearly explain what he was doing or gain your consent. He’s very much in the wrong and I hope he’s disciplined accordingly. I would just be a bit careful about jumping straight to “He’s a nonce who wanted to look at my daughter’s genitals”.

Oh OP of course you’re not a failure! You’re doing the best by your daughter by making sure she’s seen by professionals when needed and then by flagging up concerns. You’re exactly the kind of mum all girls need and she’s very lucky to have you.

I haven’t read the full thread yet but yes, report. At best this is a huge failure of communication on the part of the GP and that is totally unacceptable. Very concerning behaviour that needs checking out. Are they still allowed to work alone?

This is definitely something I would be reporting if ony to get clarification as to why. I cant think of any reason whatsoever where this would be required in the case of autism.

It did cross my mind given autism presents with behavioural issues, could he be doing general checks about the possibility of parents going along with the no gender upbringing & he was making sure the child was definitely a girl, especially if it was a private consultation with no records available. It seems far fetched but nothing surprises me in this respect nowadays. I am not suggesting for a second this is your situation OP but if this is something this doctor wants to clarify I'm just wondering if its a possibility.

Child not chips.

Sounds strange with no explanation and no chaperone OP

Chips no anus?

Both my dc have autism no pa. The only time they have looked at their skin was when 1 asked about marks on their skin. Ds has a birthmark on 1 of his legs. She asked to see it I showed it to her. Told me it’s a Café-au-Lait Spot.

Never looked at anything else definitely not their genitalia’s. The only paediatrician who has looked was when they were newborn. To check they have everything they should. There was a chips in my dc school born without an anus.

As someone who works children's and adult clinics, chaperone rules are VERY clear. It doesn't matter if there is someone with a patient, you still have to ask if a chaperone is required.
In this instance I would absolutely be putting a complaint in. I would also ask for a copy of their chaperone policy. Under no circumstances do genitals need checking in an autism assessment. Not only in my professional experience, but my personal experience as a parent of children who have undergone assessment.

In my opinion, this is a serious incident that needs investigating. How many other parents have just allowed this to happen when it's completely unnecessary!

And have a nurse present. Even when I was getting breast checks my doctor always brought a female nurse in.

I wish you well with your complaint.

if It was a nurse would have made me feel better.

Why? Why would it be ok for a nurse to check her genitals? Or do you mean 'a woman'?

Then they would usually have asked the receptionist to chaperone

this is awful I’m so sorry you and your dd experienced this. I hope something comes of the complaint and it isn’t brushed under the carpet. Please find a new gp to register with, I wouldn’t be within a mile of this ‘doctor’ ever again.